Mangaluru: Terming that guarantee schemes of the Congress government in Karnataka have created favourable atmosphere for Congress in the state, Congress Campaign Committee chairman and former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake on Tuesday said that the guarantee schemes are expected to divert 10 to 15 per cent votes from the BJP to Congress.
Speaking to presspersons after 42 JD(S) office-bearers joined the grand old party at the Congress Bhavana in Mangaluru, Sorake said, "Congress is sure of winning 20 seats in Karnataka."
"The guarantee schemes were ridiculed by the BJP. However, the Congress led government was able to implement the five guarantee schemes within six months of coming to power," he said.
He expressed confidence that Congress will wrest Udupi-Chikmagaluru and Dakshina Kannada constituency from BJP. "With the leaders from JD(S) joining, the party will be strengthened further,” he said.
“JD(S) has lost its secular identity after entering into an alliance with the BJP," he added.
“We will create awareness on the guarantees of the Congress including Rs 1 lakh per year for women, along with five guarantee schemes of the state government. The BJP’s Jal Jeevan Mission which aimed at supplying tapped water to every household is restricted to laying of pipelines without identifying source of water,” he said.
'Election Gimmick'
Sorake also termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering floral tribute and garlanding statue of social reformer Brahmasri Narayana Guru before proceeding for roadshow in Mangaluru as "election gimmick".
"The act would have become meaningful if Modi-led government had followed the preachings of Narayana Guru. Unfortunately, the BJP had insulted Narayana Guru by rejecting tableau during RD parade, dropped lessons on Narayana Guru from the textbooks,” he alleged.
To a query on the I.N.D.I.A. alliance holding a convention separately in Mangaluru, Sorake said, "we are working in coordination. Congress candidate Padmaraj R had attended the convention.”
On whether SDPI will support Congress, Sorake said, "The issue has not come up for any discussion at the state level."
DCC President Harish Kumar said, "we expected Modi to react to our questions on contributions of BJP MPs to DK, tax devolution, Mekedatu, Upper Bhadra project, electoral bonds, whether Modi guarantee will push the country towards bankruptcy."
"Modi’s road show and garlanding statue of Narayana Guru aimed at diverting the attention of the people," he alleged.